:.^r''a%- - 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

siicif.r\? 3n 






UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 






OR AN 



EASY METHOD 



MANAGING BEES/^ 



IN THE MOST 

PROFITABLE MANNER TO THEIR OWNER, 

WITH 

JlNi-'ALLinLL. RULES TO PREVENT THEIR 
DESTRUCTION BY THE MOTJ 



BY JOHN M. WEEKS 

Of Salisbury, Vt. 



1 D [>L E B U R Y . 

i> I E W E T T J P Iv 1 



183G. 



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\ 
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41 '^ . 



M A IS V Ah 



EASY I\I E T H O D 



MANAGING BEES, 

IN THE MOST 

PROFITABLE MANNER TO THEIR OWNER, 

WITH 

INFALLIBLE RULES TO PREVENT THEIR 
DESTRUCPIOr^ BY THE MOTH. 



V B Y J O H N^ . W E 



^ 



MI DOLE BURY: 

N X V V AJCD JEWETT, PRINTERS, 



1836. 



.VI 3^ 



Entered according to act of Congrcs?, m the year 1836, 

By John M. Weeks, 
Iij the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Vermont 






PREFACE 



It appears to the writer of the followiiifi pages, that a work 
of this descriplioi) is niuch needed in our counHry. 

The cul'ivaiion of the bee {Apis Mellijica) has been too 
long neglected in most parts of the United Slates. 

This genfral neulect h:is iinqueslion;ibIy originated from (he 
fact, that ih;" European enemy lo the bees, called the moth, has 
found its way into this country, and has located and naturahzed 
itself here : and has inade so nmch havoc amonir the bees, that 
many districts have entirely abandoned their cultivation. Many 
Apiarians, and men of the hitjhesl literaiy attainments, as well 
as ex()erience, have nearly exhausted iheir patience, in exam- 
inincr the peculiar nature and habits of this insect; and have 
tried various experiments, to devise some means of preven'ing 
itsd.^predations. But, after all that has been done, the spoiler 
moves onward with so little molestation, that but very few 
of our citizens are willincr to en^jage in the enterprize of culti- 
vaiin;^ this most usei'ul ?nd profitable of all insects, the honey- 
bee. 

The followin? work is comprised in a set of p!ain, concise, 
rules, by which, if strictly adhered to and praciised, any person, 
properly sitiia't-d. nny cultivate bees, and avail himself of all 
the benefits of their labors. 

If the Apian, n nianaoes strictly in accordance with the fol- 
lowing rules, the Author feels confident, that no colony will 
ever materially suffer by the moth, or will ever be destroyed 
by them. 

The author is aware of the numerous (realises published on 
this subject ; but they appear to him, fur the most part, not to 
be the rc-ult of so much experience as vague and conjectural 
speculation, and not sufficiently embodying what is practical 
and useful. 

This work is intended as an accompaniraent to the Vermont 
hive, and will be found to be the result of observation and ex- 
perience, and it is thought comprises all that is necessary to 
make a skilful Apiarian. 

THE AUTHOR 



INDEX 



Pagf. 
Rule I. On the construction of the liivc, - - - 5 

Rule II. On swarming and hiving, - - - -11 

Rule 111. On ventilating, 22 

Rule IV. On preventing robberies, - - - - 23 

Rule V. On equalizing colonies, by doubiing, trebling, &c. 26 

Rule VI. On removing honey, 29 

Role VII. The method of compelling swarms to make 
extra Queens, and keep them for the use of 

their owner, 53 

Rui.K Vlll. On supplying swarms with Queens, when 

necessary, 31 

Rule IX. On multiplying colonies to any deiirable ex- 
tent, without swarming, ... - 41 
Rule X. On preventing the depredations of the moth, 4' 

Rule XI. On feeding, 5t 

Rule XII. On wintering, 6( 

KuLE Xlll. On transferring bees from one hive to another, 61 

XIV. Gfiiural observations, - - - - 6^ 



MANUAL, &c 



RULE I. 

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BEE HIVE. 

A beehive should be made of sound boards, 
free from shakes and cracks ; it should also 
be planed smooth, inside and out, made in a 
workmanlike manner, and painted on its out- 
side. 

REMARKS. 

That a beehive should be made perfect, so 
as to exclude light and air, is obvious from the 
fact, that the bees will finish what the work- 
man has neglected, by plastering up all such 
cracks and crevices, or bad joints, which are 
left open by the joiner ; this substance is nei- 
ther honey nor wax, but a kind of glue or 
cement of their own manufacturing, and is 
used by the bees to fill up all imperfect joints 
and exclude all light and air. This cement 
2 



b AN EASY METHOD OF 

or glue is very congenial to the growth of the 
moth in the first stages of its existence. 

The moth miller enters the hive, generally, 
in the night, makes an incision into the glue 
or cement with her abdominal sting, leaves 
her eggs deposit^ in the glue, where it re- 
mains secure from the bees ; it being guarded 
by the timber on its sides. Thus, while a 
niaggot, (larva) the moth uses the cement for 
food until it arrives so far towards a state of 
maturity as to be able to spin a web, which is 
more fully explained in our remarks on Rule 
10. 

The size of a hive should be in accordance 
with the strictest rules of economy^ and adap- 
ted to the peculiar nature and economy of the 
honey-bee, in order to make them profitable 
to their owner. 

The lower apartment of the hive, where 
they store their food, raise their young bees, 
and perform their ordinary labors, should hold 
as much as a box thirteen inches and one half 
or fourteen inches square in the clear or area. 

If the hive is much larger than the one de- 



MANAGING BEES. 7 

scribed above, with their chamber in propor- 
tion, which should hold about two thirds as 
much as the lower apartment, the bees will 
not be likely to swarm during the season. 

Large hives never swarm ; and those, much 
less than the one already described, do but 
little else than raise young bees and lay up a 
sufficient quantity of food to supply them 
through the coming winter, and are more liable 
to be robbed. 

All hives that swarm are liable to swarm 
too much, and reduce their colonies so low in 
numbers as to materially injure them, and is 
frequently the cause of their destruction by the 
moth, which is more particularly explained in 
our remarks on Rule 2. 

The chamber of the hive should be made 
perfectly tight, so as to exclude all light from 
the drawers. 

Drawers should be small like No. 2, for all 
purposes except such as are used for multi- 
plying colonies and transferring, which should 
always be large like No. 1. 

Hives should have cleets on their sides, so 
2* 



y AN EASY METHOD OF 

as to suspend them in the air some distance 
from the floor of the apiary, the better to se- 
cure the bees from destruction by mice, rep- 
tiles, and other vermin. * 

The back side or rear of the lower apart- 
ment of the hive should project or slant for- 
ward, so as to render the same smallest at the 
bottom, the better to secure the combs from 
falling when cracked by frost or nearly melted 
in hot weather. 

No timbers or boards should come very 
near the lower edge of the hive, because it 
facilitates the entrance of depredators. That 
the back side should slant forward, is obvious 
from the fact, that bees generally rest one edge 
of their combs on the same and build towards 
the front in such a manner as to enter upon 
the same sheet where they intend to deposit 
their stores, where they first enter the hive, 
without being compelled to take any unneces- 
sary steps. 

The bottom of the hive should slant down- 
ward from rear to front, so as to afford the 
greatest facility to the bees to clear their ten- 



MANAGING BEES. \l 

ement of all offensive substances, and let the 
water, which is occasioned by the breath and 
steam of the bees, run off in cold weather. 
It also aids the bees very much in preventing 
the entrance of robbers. 

The bottom board should be suspended by 
staples and hooks near each corner of the hive, 
in such a manner as to afford a free entrance 
and egress to the bees on all its sides, which will 
better enable them to keep their tenement 
clear of the moths. 

There should be a button attached to the 
lower edge of the rear of the hive, so as to 
enable the Apiarian to govern the same in 
such a manner as to give all the air they need,, 
or close the hive at pleasure. 

The hive should have two sticks placed at 
equal distances, extending from front to rear, 
resting on the rear, with a screw drawn through 
the front into the end of the stick, which holds 
it fast in its place. 

The door to the chamber should be made 
to fit in the rabitings of the same against the 
jambs, in such a iHE^nner as to exclude the 



10 AN EASY METHOD OF 

light from the windows of the drawers, and 
also to prevent the entrance of the little ants. 
It should also be hung by butts, or fastened by 
a bar, running vertically across the centre o' 
the door, and confined by staples at each end. 

There should be three sheet iron slides, one 
of which should be nearly as wide as the 
chamber, and one or two inches longer than 
the length of the chamber. The other two 
should be the same length of the first, and half 
its width only. 

All hives and all their appendages should 
be made exactly of a size and shape in the 
same apiary. The trouble of equlaizing col- 
onies is far less than it is to accommodate hives 
to swarms. Much perplexity and sometimes 
serious difliculties occur, where the Apiarian 
uses different sized hives and drawers. But 
this part of the subject will be more fully dis- 
cussed under its proper rule. 



MANAGING BEES. 11 



RULE II. 



ON SWARMING AND HIVING. 

The Apiarian or bee owner, should have 
his hives in readiness and in their places in the 
apiary, with the drawers in their chambers 
bottom up, so as to prevent entrance. 

When a swarm comes forth and has alighted, 
cut off the hmb if conveient, shake it gently, 
so as to disengage the bees, and let them fall 
gently on to the table, board, or ground (as 
the case may be) place the hive over them 
before many rise into the air, taking care at 
the same time to lay one or more sticks in 
such a manner as to raise the hive so as 
to give the bees rapid ingress and egress. 
If the bees act reluctantly in taking pos- 
session of their new habitation, disturb them 
by brushing them gently with a goose quill or 
some other instrument, not harsh, and they will 
soon enter. In case it is found necessary to 
invert the hive to receive the bees, (which is 
frequent, from the manner of their alighting,) 
then, first, secure the drawers down to the floor 
by inserting a handkerchiefor something above 
them ; now invert the hive and shake or brush 
the bees gently into it ; now turn it gently right 



12 AN EASY METHOD OF 

end up on the table, or as the case may be^^ 
observmg the rule aforesaid. 

REMARKS. 

Bees swarm from nine o'clock in the morn- 
ing to three o'clock in the afternoon on a fair 
day, differing in the season according to the 
climate. In Vermont they generally swarm 
from the middle of May to the fifteenth of 
July ; in late seasons some later. I have 
known them to swarm as early as,seven in the 
morning and as late as four in the afternoon. 
I have also known them to come forth when 
it rained so hard as nearly to defeat them by 
beating down many to the ground which were 
probably lost from their colony ; and I once 
had a swarm come forth on the sixteenth day 
of August. 

Experience and observation has taught that 
the Queen leaves the old stock first, and her 
colony rapidly follow. They fly about a few 
minutes, apparently in the great,est confusion, 
until the swarm is principally out of the hive. 
They then alight, generally on the limb of some 
tree, shrub, or bush, or some other place con- 



MANAGING BEES. 13 

venient for them to cluster in a bunch not far 
from the old stock and make their arrange- 
ments for a journey to a new habitation. Per- 
haps not one swarm in a thousand knows 
where they are going until after they have 
left the old stock, alighted, formed into a 
compact body or cluster, and not then until 
they have sent oiF an embassy to search out a 
place for their future residence. Now if the 
bees are hived immediately after they have 
alighted, before they send off their embassy to 
seek a new tenement, they will never fly 
away, admitting they have sufficient room, (for 
it is want of room that makes them swarm 
in the first place) and their hive is also clear 
of every thing that is offensive to them. 

The old custom of washing hives with salt 
and water and other substances, to give it a 
pleasant effluvia, should be speedily abolished. 
Nothing but bees should ever be put into a 
hive. 

When bees die, the hive should be cleared 
of its contents and scraped out clean, and the 
the chamber rubbed with cloth wet in clears 



14 AN EASY METHOD OF 

water ; then set it in its place in the apiary, 
and there let it stand until wanted for use. An 
old hive, thus prepared, is as good as a new 
one for the reception of a swarm. The Api- 
arian should examine before using to see that 
the hive is free from spiders and cobwebs. 

When bees are not hived immediately after 
they have clustered in a body, they should be 
removed to the apiary, or several rods from 
the place where they alighted, as soon as they 
can be hived, to prevent their being found on 
the return of the embassy. Since I have thus 
practised, I have never lost a swarm by flight. 

Experience has taught that it is best to re- 
move the new swarm to the place where it is 
intended to stand during the season, immedi- 
ately after hiving. Fewer bees are lost by 
a speedy removal, than when permitted to 
stand until evening, because they are creatures 
of habit, and are every moment establisiiing 
themselves in their location. 'J'he longer they 
stand in the place where they are hived, the 
greater will be the number lost when removed. 
But more of this hereafter. 



MANAGING BEES. 15 

When bees are collected in drawers for the 
purpose of equalizing colonies, by doubling, 
he, they should be permitted to stand until 
evening before they are united, it being a more 
favorable time for them to become acquainted 
with each other by degrees ; and the scent of 
the bees in the lower apartment will enter 
through the apertures during the night so 
much that there is a greater degree of same- 
ness in the peculiar smell of the two colonies, 
which takes off their animosity, if they chance 
to have any. 

No confusion or noise which is uncommon 
to the bees should ever be made during their 
swarming or hiving. The only effect of noise, 
ringing of bells, &,c. that I could ever discover, 
was, to render them more hostile and unman- 
ageable. 

When bees are treated in accordance with 
their true nature, they are sometimes hostile, 
which originates from two causes. First, some 
of them lie out of the hive before swarming, 
and some of them, in consequence of their 
confusion in swarming, are not apprised of the 



16 AN EASY METHOD OF 

intention of the Queen to leave the old stock 
and seek a new habitation, and they sally forth 
with the swarm without filling their sacks with 
stores, which alv\ays makes them more irrita- 
ble than when their stomachs are filled with 
food. 

The Vermont hive possesses advantages in 
this respect, as well as others, far superior to 
the old box. Instead of lying out before 
swarming, as in the old box, they go up into 
the drawers, and are constantly employed in 
depositing the delicious fi^uits of their labors : 
and being in the hive, where they can hear 
and observe all the movements of the Queen, 
they go forth well stored with provisions suited 
to the peculiar contingency of the case ; which 
ordinarily repels ail their feelings of hostility. 

The second reason why bees are sometimes 
irritable, and are disposed to sting when they 
swarm, is, the air is forbidding to them, by 
being cold or otherwise, so as to impede them 
in their determined emigration. In all such 
cases, the Apiarian should be furnished with a 
veil, made of millinet, or some light covering, 



MANAGING BEES. 17 

which may be thrown over his hat, and let 
down so low as to cover his face and bosom, 
and fixed in such a manner as to prevent their 
stinging. He should also put on a pair of 
thick woolen stockings over his hands, thus 
managing them without the least danger. 

A clean hive is all that is needed for a swarm 
of bees, with careful and humane treatment. 

I know of no rule by which the exact day 
of their first swarming can be known with 
certainty. The Apiarian will estimate near 
the time by the number of bees in and about 
the hive, as it will become very much crowded. 

The day of second swarming, and all after 
that during the same season, may be most 
certainly predicted as follows. Listen near 
the entrance of the hive in the evening. If 
a swarm is coming forth the next day, the 
Queen will be heard giving an alarm at short 
intervals. The same alarm may generally be 
heard the next morning. The observer will 
generally hear two Queens at a time in the 
same hive, the one much louder than the other. 
The one making the least noise is yet in her 



18 AN EASY METHOD OF 

cell, and in her minority. The sound emitted 
by the Queens is peculiar, differing nnaterially 
from that of any other bee. It consists of a 
number of monotonous notes in rapid succes- 
sion, similar to those emitted by the mud-wasp 
when working her mortar and joining it to her 
cells, to raise miss-wasps. If, after all, the 
weather is unfavorable to their swarming two 
or three days while in this peculiar stage, they 
will not be likely to swarm again the same 
season. 

Two reasons, and two only, can be assigned 
why bees ever swarm. The first is, want of 
room, and the second, to avoid the battle of 
the Queens. It is indeed true that there are 
exceptions. Perhaps one in a hundred swarms 
may come forth before their hive is filled with 
comb ; but from nearly forty years experience 
in their cultivation, I never saw an instance of 
it, where the hive was not full of bees at their 
first swarming. When the first swarm comes 
forth, eggs, young brood, or both, are left in 
the combs, but no Queen ; for the old Queen 
always goes forth with the swarm, and leaves 



MANAGING BEES. 19 

the old stock entirely destitute. Not a single 
Queen, in any stage of minority, is left in the 
hive. 

The bees very soon find themselves desti- 
tute of the means of propagating their species, 
for the Queen is the only female in the hive, 
and immediately set themselves to work in 
constructing several royal cells, probably to 
be more sure of success; take a grub {larva) 
from the cell of a common worker, place it 
in the new-made royal cell, feed it on 
royal jelly, and in a few days they have a 
Queen. Now as the eggs are laid in about 
three litters per week, the bees, to be still 
more sure of succeeding in their laudable en- 
terprize, take maggots, differing only in age, 
so that if more than one Queen is hatched, 
one will be older than the others. This fact 
accounts for hearing more than one Queen at 
the same time, because one comes out a per- 
fect fly, while the other Is a nymph, or a little 
younger, and has not yet made her escape 
from the cell where she was raised, and yet 
both answer the alarm of the other, the young- 
est more feebly than the elder. 



20 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Bees will never swarm but once the same 
season, unless they make more than one 
Queen, immediately after the departure of the 
first swarm ; and not then, if the bees permit the 
oldest Queen to come in contact with the cell 
where the younger ones are growing. Queens 
entertain the most deadly animosity towards 
€ach other, and will commence an attack upon 
each other the first moment opportunity of- 
fers; the old Queen will even tear all the 
cradles or cells to pieces where young ones 
are growing, and destroy all the chrysalis 
Queens in the hive. 

If the weather becomes unfavorable to 
swarming, the next day after the alarm of the 
Queen is heard, and continues so for several 
days, the oldest Queen may come in contact 
with the other, or gain access to their cells ; in 
either case the life of one of them is destroy- 
ed by the other, and the colony will not be 
likely to send forth another swarm the same 
season. If the old Queen succeeds in taking 
the life of the younger, or vice versa, the re- 
maining nymphs will be likely to share the 



MANAGING BEES. 21 

same fate of her martyred sisters, by the hand 
of the reigning Queen, who considers all oth- 
ers in the same hive as her competitors. 

Second swarms would be as large and nu- 
merous as any others, if it was not the fact, 
that they come forth to avoid the battle of the 
Queens. Bees are very tenacious to preserve 
the lives of their sovereigns, particularly those 
of their own raising ; and when they find they 
have more than one in the hive, they will 
guard each so strong as to prevent, if possible, 
their coming within reach of each other. They 
being thus strongly guarded to prevent the 
fight, is unquestionably the cause of their giv- 
ing the alarm, as described in the foregoing 
article. The knowledge of the existence of 
another Queen m the same hive inspires them 
with the greatest uneasiness and rage; and 
when the oldest one finds herself defeated in 
gaining access to her competitor, she sallies 
forth with as many as see fit to follow her, and 
seeks a new habitation. 

The drawers should be turned over, so as 
to let the bees into them as soon as they have 



22 AN EASY METHOD OF 

built their combs nearly to the bottom of the 
hive. If the swarm is so large that the lower 
apartment will not hold all of them, they should 
be let into one or both of the drawers, at the 
time of hiving ; otherwise they may go off for 
want of room. 



RULE III. 

OiN^ VENTILATING THE HTVE. 

Graduate the bottom board at pleasure, by 
Hieans of the button or otherwise, so- as to give 
them more or less air, as the circumstances 
may require. 

REMARKS. 

Bees require more air in order to enable 
them to endure the heat of summer and the 
severity of winter, than at any other time. 
If they are kept out in the cold, they need as 
much air in the winter as in the heat of sum- 
mer. It is in a mild temperature only, that 
it is safe to keep them from the pure air. If 
placed below frost in a dry sand bank, they 



MANAGING BEES. 23 

seem to need scarcely more than is contained 
in their hive at the time they are buried, dur- 
ing the whole winter. If kept in a clean, 
dry cellar, the mouth, so contracted as to keep 
out mice, gives them enough. But if they 
are kept in the apiary, the bottom board should 
be suspended as low as in heat of summer. 
My stocks have wintered best, which have 
had at least one inch space betwixt the bottom 
board and the lower edges of the hive. 



RULE IV. 

ON PREVENTING ROBBERIES. 

At the moment it is observed, that robbers 
are within, or about the hive, raise the bottom 
board so near the edge of the hive as to pre- 
vent the ingress or egress of the bees, and stop 
the mouth or common , entrance. At the 
same time take care that a small space on all 
sides of the hive be left open, so as to afford 
them all the air they need. Open the mouth' 
only at evening and close early in the morn- 
ing, before the robbers renew their attack. 
3* 



24 AN EA&Y METHOD OF 

REMARKS. 

Bees have a peculiar propensity to rob each 
other, and every precaution, necessary to pre- 
vent it, should be exercised by the cultivator. 
Families in the same apiary are more likely 
to engage in this unlawful enterprize than any 
others, probably because they are located so 
near each other, and are more likely to learn 
their comparative strength. I never could 
discover any intimacy between colonies of the 
same apiary, except when they stood on the 
same bench ; and then, all the social inter- 
course seems to subsist between the nearest 
neighbors only. 

Bees are not likely to engage in warfare 
and rob each other, except in the spring and 
fall, and at other times in the season, when 
food is not easily obtained from blossoms. 

Bees do not often engage in robbery in the 
spring, unless it is in such hives as have had 
their combs broken by frost or otherwise, so 
^s to cause the honey to drip down upon the 
bottom board. Much care should be exercis- 
ed by the Apiarian to see that all such hives 



MANAGING BEES. 25 

are properly ventilated, and at the same time 
closed in such a manner as to prevent the en- 
trance of robbers in the day-time, until they 
have mended the breach, so as to stop the 
honey from running. 

Clear water should be given them every 
day, so long as they are kept in confinement. 
I have known many good stocks to be lost 
in the spring, by being robbed ; and all for 
want of care. Bees rob each other when they 
can find but little else to do ; they will rob at 
any time when frost has destroyed the flow- 
ers, or the weather is so cold as to prevent 
their collectig honey from them. Cold, chil- 
ly weather prevents the flowers from yielding 
honey without frost, as was the case in the 
summer of 1835, in many places- 
Bees need but little air at any time when 
they rob, and yet more is necessary for them, 
when confined by compulsory means, than at any 
other time. When deprived oftheir liberty, they 
soon become restless, and use their best efl?brts 
to make their way out of the hive ; hence the 
importance of leaving a small space all around 



^ AN EASY METHOD OF 

the bottom, to admit air and to prevent their 
melting down. 



RULE V. 

ON EaUALIZlNG COLONIES. 

Hive one swarm in the the lower apartment 
of the hive ; collect another swarm in a draw- 
er, and insert the same in the chamber of the 
hive containing the first. Then, if the swarms 
are small, collect another small swarm in an- 
other drawer, and insert the same in the cham- 
ber of the hive containing the first, by the 
side of the second. In case all the bees from 
either of the drawers, amalgamate and go be- 
low with the first swarm and leave the drawer 
empty, then it may be removed, and another 
small swarm added in the same manner. 

REMARKS. 

It is of prime importance to every bee culti- 
vator, that all his colonies be made as near 
equal in numbers and strength, as possible. 
Every experienced bee-master must be aware 
that small swarms are of but little profit to 



MANAGING BEES. 27 

^heir owner. Generally, in a few days after 
they are hived, they are gone ; no one can 
trace their steps ; some suppose they have fled 
to the woods, others that they were robbed ; 
but, after all, no one is able to give any satis- 
factory account of them. Some pieces of 
comb only are left, and perhaps myriads of 
worms and millers finish off the whole. Then 
the moth is supposed to be their destroyer, but 
the true history of the case is generally this: 
The bees become discouraged, or disheartened , 
for want of numbers to constitute their colony, 
abandon their tenement, and join with their 
nearest neighbors, leaving their combs to the 
merciless depredations of the moth. They 
are sometimes robbed by their adjoining hives, 
and then the moths finish or destroy the combs 
and bread. 

Second swarms are generally about half as 
large as the first, and third swarms half as 
large as second ones. 

Now if second swarms are doubled, so as 
to make them equal in number with the first, 
the owner avails himself of the advantage of a 



28 AS EASY METHOD OF 

Strong colony, which will not be likely to be- 
come disheartened, for want of numbers, nor 
overcome by robbers from stronger colonies. 

It is far less trouble, and less expense, for 
the bee owner to equalize his colonies, than 
to prepare hives and drawers of different sizes 
to fit colonies. 

When colonies and hives are made as near 
alike as possible, many evils are avoided, and 
many advantages realized; every hive will fit 
a place in the apiary, every drawer a hive, 
and every bottom board and slide will jn any 
case be used without mistakes. 

Swarms may be doubled at any time before 
they become so located as to resume their 
former hostility, which will not be discovered 
in less than three or four days. Now bees 
are provided with a reservoir, or sack, to car- 
ry their provision in ; and when they swarm, 
they go loaded with provision suited to their 
emergency, which lakes off all their hostility 
towards each other ; and until these sacks are 
emptied, they are not easily vexed, and as 
^hey are compelled to build combs before they 



MANAGING BEES. 29 

can empty them, it takes them several days. 
I have doubled, at a fortnight's interval in 
swarming, with entire success. The operation 
should be performed within two or three days, 
at the farthest four days. The sooner it is 
done, the less hazardous is the experiment. 

As a general rule, second swarms only 
should be doubled. Third and fourth swarms 
should always have their Queen taken from 
them and the bees returned to the parent stock, 
according to Rule 10. 



RULE VI. 

ON REMOVING HONEY. 

Insert a slide between the drawer and floor, 
to the chamber, so far as to cut off all com- 
munication between the lower apartment and 
the drawer. Insert another slide between the 
first slide and the drawer. Now draw out the 
box containing the honey. Set the drawer 
on its window end, a little distance from the 
apiary, and remove the slide. Now supply 
the place of the drawer, thus removed, with 



so AN EASY METHOD OF 

an empty one, and draw the first inserted 
slide. 

REMARKS. 

Care must be exercised in performing this 
operation. The apertures through the floor 
into the chamber must be kept closed during 
the process, so as to keep the bees from rush- 
ing up into the chamber when the box is drawn 
out. The operator must likewise see that the 
entrances into the drawer are kept covered 
with the slide, in such a manner as to prevent 
the escape of any of the bees, unless he is 
willing to be stung by them. If the bees are 
perm.itted to enter the chamber in very warm 
weather, they will be likely to hold the occu- 
pancy of it, and build comb there, which will 
change the hive into one no better than an old 
fashioned box. 

I have succeeded best in removing honey 
by the following method, to wit: Shut the 
window blinds so as to darken one of the rooms 
in the dwelling house — raise up one casement 
of a window — then carry the drawer and place 
the same on a table, or stand, by the window, 



MANAGING BEES. 31 

on its light or glass end, with the appertures 
towards the light. Now remove the slide, 
and step immediately back into the dark part 
of the room. The bees will soon learn their 
true condition, and will gradually leave the 
drawer, and return home to the parent stock ; 
thus leaving the drawer and irs contents for 
their owner ; not however until they have suck- 
ed every drop of running honey, if there should 
chance to be any, which is not often the case, 
if their work is finished. 

There are two cases in which the bees man- 
ifest some reluctance in leaving the drawer. 
The first is, when the combs are in an unfin- 
ished state, some of the cells not sealed over. 
The bees manifest a great desire to remain 
there, probably to make their stores more se- 
cure from robbers, by affixing caps to the un- 
covered cells, to prevent the effluvia of run- 
ning honey, which is always the greatest 
temptation to robbers. 

Bees manifest the greatest reluctance in 
leaving the drawer, when young brood are re- 
moved in it, which never occurs, except in 



32 AN EASY METHOD OF 

such drawers as have been used for feeding in 
the winter or early in the spring. When the 
Queen has deposited eggs in all the empty 
cells below, she sometimes enters the drawers; 
and if empty cells are found, she deposites 
eggs there also. In either case, it is better to 
return the drawer, which will be made perfect 
by them in a few days. 

Special care is necessary in storing, drawers 
of honey, when removed from the care and 
protection of the bees, in order to preserve the 
honey from insects, which never make sweet, 
but are great lovers of honey, particularly the 
ant. A chest, made perfectly tight, is a good 
store-house. 

If the honey in the drawers is to be pre- 
served for winter use, it should be kept in a 
room so warm as not to freeze. Frost cracks 
the combs, and tlie honey will drip as soon 
as warm weathei commences. Drawers should 
be packed with their appertures up, for keep- 
ing or carrying to market. 



MANAGING BEES. 33 



RULE VII 



THE METHOD OF COMPELLING SWARMS TO 

MAKE AND KEEP EXTRA aUEENS, FOR 

THEIR APIARIAN, OR OWNER. 

Take a drawer containing bees and brood 
comb, and place the same in the chamber of 
an empty hive ; taking care to stop the en- 
trance of the hive, and give them clean water, 
daily, three or four days. Then unstop the 
mouth of the hive, and continue to them their 
liberty. The operator must observe Rule 6 
in using the slides. 

REMARKS. 

The prosperity of every colony depends 
entirely on the condition of the Queen, when 
the season is favorable to them. 

Every bee-master should understand their 
nature in this respect, so as to enable him to 
be in readiness to supply them with another 
Queen when they chance to become destitute^ 

The discovery of the fact, that bees have 
the power to change the nature of a grub 
(larva) of a worker to that of a Queen, is at- 



34 AN EASY METHOD OF 

tributed to Bonner. But Bonner, nor the in- 
defatigable Ruber, nor any other writer, to 
my knowledge, has gone so far in the illustra- 
tion of this discovery as to render it practica- 
ble and easy for common people to avail 
themselves of its benefits. 

The Vermont hive is the only one, to my 
knowledge, in which bees can be compelled 
to make and keep extra Queens for the use 
of their owner, without extreme difficulty, as 
well as danger, by stings, in attempting the 
experiment. 

The idea of raising her royal highness, and 
elevating and establishing her upon the throne 
of a colony, may, by some, be deemed alto- 
gether visionary and futile : but I will assure 
the reader, that it is easier done than can be 
described. I have both raised them, and sup- 
plied destitute swarms repeatedly. 

When the drawer containing bees and brood 
comb, is removed, the bees soon find them- 
selves destitute of a female, and immediately 
set themselves to work in constructing one or 
more royal cells. When completed, whidj is 



MANAGING BEES. 35 

commonly within forty-eight hours, they re- 
move a grub (larva) from the worker's cell^ 
place the same in the new made Queen's cellj 
feed on that kind of food which is designed 
only for Queens, and in from twelve to six- 
teen days they have a perfect Queen. 

As soon as the bees have safely deposited 
the grub in the new made royal cell, the bees 
may have their liberty. Their attachment 
to their young brood, and their fidelity to their 
Queen, in any stage of its minority, is such, 
that they will never leave nor forsake them^ 
and will continue all their ordinary labors, 
with as much regularity as if they had a per- 
fect Queen. 

In making Queens in small boxes or draw- 
ers, the owner will not be troubled by their 
swarming the same season they are made. 
There are so few bees in the drawer, they are 
unable to guard the nymph Queens, if there 
are any, from being destroyed by the oldest, 
or the one which escapes from her cell first. 

In examining the drawer, in which I raised 
an extra Queen, I found not only the Queen, 



36 AN EASY METHOD OF 

but two royal cells, one of which was in per- 
fect shape ; the other was mutilated, proba- 
bly by the Queen which came out first. Now 
when there are so few bees to guard the 
nymphs, it would not be very difficult for the 
oldest Queen to gain access to the cells, and 
destroy all the minor Queens in the drawer. 

When a drawer is removed to an empty 
hive, for the purpose of obtaining an extra 
Queen, it should be placed some distance 
from the apiary, the better to prevent its being 
robbed by other swarms. When it is some 
distance from other colonies, they are not so 
likely to learn its comparative strength. There 
is but little danger however, of its being rob- 
bed, until after the bees are out of danger of 
losing their Queen, which generally occurs in 
the swarming season. 

The Queen is sometimes lost, in conse- 
quence of the young brood being too far ad- 
vanced at the time of the departure of the old 
Queen with her swarm. If the grubs had ad- 
vanced very near the dormant or chrysalis 
state, before the bees learnt their necessity for 



MANAGING BEES. 37 

a Queen, and the old Queen neglected to 
leave eggs, which is sometimes the case ; then 
it would be impossible for the bees to change 
their nature, and the colony would be lost, 
unless supplied with another. 



RULE VIII. 

ON SUPPLYING SWARMS, DESTITUTE OF A 
aUEEN, WITH ANOTHER. 

Take the drawer from the hive, which was 
placed there according to Rule 7, and insert 
the same into the chamber of the hive to be 
supphed ; observing Rule 6 in the use of the 
slides. 

REMARKS. 

Colonies destitute of a Queen may be sup- 
plied with another the moment it is found they 
have none ; which is known only by their ac- 
tions. 

Bees, when deprived of their female sove- 
reign, cease their labors ; no polen or bee- 
bread is seen on their legs ; no ambition seems 
4 



38 AN EASY METHOD OF 

to actuate their movements ; no dead bees are 
drawn out ; no deformed bees, in the various 
stages of their minority, are extracted, and 
dragged out of their eels, and dropped down 
about the hive, as is usual among all healthy 
and prosperous colonies. 

Colonies that have lost their Queen, when 
standing on the bench beside of other swarms, 
will run into the adjoining hive without the 
least resistance. They will commence their 
emigration by running in confused platoons 
of hundreds, from their habitation to the next 
adjoining hive. They immediately wheel 
about and run home again, and thus continue, 
sometimes for several days, in the greatest 
confusion, constantly replenishing their neigh- 
bor's hive, by enlarging her colony, and, at 
the same time, reducing their own, until there 
is not a single occupant left ; and remarkable 
as it is, they leave every particle of their 
stores for their owner or the depredations of 
the moth. 

Colonies loose their Queens more frequent- 
Iv durin<{ the swarmino: season than anv other. 



MANAGING BEES. 39 

In the summer of 1830. I Jost three good 
stocks of bees in consequence of their losing 
their Queens, one of which was lost soon after 
the first swarming, the two others not many- 
days after the second swarming, all of which 
manifested similar actions, and ended in the 
same results, which will be more particularly 
explained in remarks on Rule 10. 

The Queen is sometimes lost, when she 
goes forth with a swarm, in consequence ol 
being too feeble to fly with her young colony ; 
in which case the bees return to their parent 
stock, in a few minutes. In fact all occurren- 
ces of this kind originate in the inability of 
the Queen. If she returns to the old stock, 
the swarm will come out again the next day, 
if the weather is favorable. If the Queen is 
too feeble to return, and the Apiarian neglects 
to look her up, and restore her to her colony 
again, (which it is his imperative duty to do,) 
the bees will not swarm again until they have 
made another, or are supplied, which may be 
done immediately by giving them anv soarc 



40 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Queen. 1 have done it with entire success, 
and never failed in the experiment. 

The Queen, when lost in swarming, is easily 
found, unless the wmd is so strong as to have 
blown her a considerable distance. A few 
bees are always found with her, which prob- 
ably serve as her aids, and greatly assist the 
Apiarian in spying her out. She is frequently 
found near the ground, on a spire of grass, the 
fence, or any place most convenient for her 
to alight, when her strength fails her. I once 
had quite a search for her majesty, with- 
out much apparent success. At the same 
time, there were flying about me a dozen or 
more common workers. At last her royal 
highness was discovered, concealed from my 
observation in a fold of my shirt sleeve. I 
then returned her to her colony, which had 
already found their way home to the parent. 
stock. 

The Queen may be taken in the hand 
without danger, for she never stings by design, 
except when conflicting with another Queen; 



MANAGING BEES. 41 

and yet she has a stinger at least one third 
longer, but more feeble than a worker. 

The Queen is known by her peculiar shape, 
size, and movements. She differs but little 
in color from a worker, and has the same num- 
ber of legs and wings. She is much longer 
than any of the bees. Her abdomen is very 
large and perfectly round, and has an addi- 
tional number of folds, which makes her known 
to the observer the moment she is seen. The 
wings and proboscis are short. Her move- 
ments are stately and majestic. She is much 
less in size, after the season for breeding is 
over. She is easily selected from among a 
swarm, at any season of the year, by any one 
who has often seen her. 



RULE IX. 

ON MULTIPLYING COLONIES TO ANY DESIR- 
ABLE EXTENT, V^ITHOUT THEIR 

SWARMING. 

The large drawer. No. 1, should always be 
used for this purpose. Insert slides, as in 



42 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Rule 6, and remove the drawer containing 
bees and brood comb ; place the same in the 
chamber of an empty hive ; stop the entran- 
ces of both the new and old hives, taking care 
to give them air, as in Rule 4. Give clean 
water daily, three or four days. Now let the 
bees, in both hives, have their liberty. 

REMARKS. 

This operation is both practicable and easy, 
and is of prime importance to all cultivators, 
who wish to avoid the necessity of hiving 
them when they swarm ; and yet it will not 
prevent swarming, except in that part of the 
divided colony which contains the Queen 
at the time of their separation. The other 
part being compelled to make another Queen, 
(and they generally make two more) will be 
likely to swarm to avoid their battle, as ex- 
plained in Remarks on Rule 2. The hive 
containing the old Queen may swarm for want 
of room ; but, at any rate, in performing the 
operation, it has saved the trouble of hiving 
one swarm, and prevented all danger of their 
flight to the woods. 

Multiplying colonies by this rule is a per- 



MANAGING BEES. 43 

fecily safe method of managing them, admit- 
ting they are not allowed to swarm themselves 
so low as to leave unoccupied combs, which 
will be explained in Remarks on Rule 10. 



RULE X. 

ON PREVENTING THE DEPREDATIONS OF 
THE MOTH. 

Ail such Stocks as are infested with the 
moth, will manifest it as soon as warm weath- 
er commences in the spring by dropping some 
of the worms upon the bottom board. Let 
the Apiarian clean off the bottom board every 
other morning ; at the same time strew^ on a 
spoonful or two of fresh, pulverized salt. 

Immediately after a second swarm has come 
forth from a hive, the same season, the old 
stock should be examined ; and if swarming 
has reduced their numbers so low as to leave 
unoccupied combs, the Apiarian should take 
the Queen from the swarm, and let them re- 
turn to the old stock. In case they remain 
in a cluster, hive them in a drawer, and return 
them immediately. 



44 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Third and fourth swarms should always 
have their Queens taken from them and the 
bees returned to the parent stock. 

REMARKS. 

" This insect is a native of Europe ; but has 
found its way into this country, and naturali- 
zed itself here." — Thatcher. 

This unwelcome visitor has interested the 
attention and called forth all the energies of 
the most experienced Apiarians of our country, 
and of many of the greatest naturalists in the 
world. Their movements have been observ- 
ed and scrutinized by the most learned, their 
nature has been studied, various experiments 
have been tried to prevent their depredations ; 
but after all the monster in gaudy hue marches 
onward, committing the greatest havoc and 
devastation, with but little molestation. 

I have lost my whole stock at least four 
times since 1808, as I supposed by the moth. 
1 tried all the experiments recommended in 
this and other countries, that came to my 
knowledge ; but, after all, I could not pre- 
vent their ravages. 



MANAGING BEES. 45 

In 1830, I constructed a hive (which has 
since been patented) which I supposed would 
afford all the facilities for managing bees in 
every manner that their nature would admit 
of, and at the same time render their cultiva- 
tion most profitable to their owner. By con- 
structing windows of glass, on every side of 
the hive, nearly the size of its sides, and dark- 
ening them by closing doors on the outside of 
the windows, which may be opened at pleas- 
ure, I have been able to discover many im- 
portant facts, both in relation to the nature 
and economy of the bee, and its enemy the 
moth ; but, probably, much yet remains to be 
learned concerning both. 

The moth, when first discovered by the 
common observer, is a white worm or maggot, 
with a reddish crusted head, and varies in 
size according to its living. Those which 
have full and unmolested access to the con- 
tents of a hive, will frequently grow as large 
as a turkey quill, and an inch and a half in 
length. Others are scarcely an inch in length 
when full grown. They have sixteen short 



46 AN EASY METHOD OF 

legs, and taper each way from the centre of 
their bodies to their head and exterior or 
abdomen. 

The worms, Hke the silk worm, wind them- 
selves into a cocoon, and pass the dormant 
(chrysalis) state of their existence, and in a 
few days come out of their silken cases per- 
fect winged insects or millers, and are soon 
ready to deposit their eggs, from which anoth- 
er crop will be raised. 

The miller, or perfect moth, is of a greyish 
color, from three fourths of an inch to an inch 
in length. They usually lie perfectly still in 
the day time, with their head downwards, 
lurking in and about the apiary. They enter 
the hive in the night, and d^posite their eggs 
in such places as are uncovered, of course un- 
guarded, by the bees. These eggs hatch in 
a short time, varying according to circumstan- 
ces, probably from two or three days to four 
or five months. At an early stage of their 
existence, while yet a small worm, they spin 
a web, and construct a silken shroud, or for- 
tress, in which they envelope themselves, and 



MANAGING BEES. 47 

form a sort of path, or gallery, as they pass 
onward in their march ; at the same time 
being perfectly secure from the bees, in their 
silken case, which they widen as they grow- 
larger; with an opening in their front only, 
near their head ; they commit the great- 
est havoc and devastation on the eggs, young 
bees and all, that come in their way as they 
pass. 

When the moth has arrived to his full state 
of maturity, he makes preparation to change 
to a miller, by winding into a cocoon, as has 
been already explained. The miller is sur- 
prisingly quick in all its movements, exceed- 
ing by far the agility of the quickest bee, ei- 
ther in flight or on its legs. Hence the 
enemy becomes so formidable that the bees 
are easily overcome and soon fall a sure prey 
to him. 

Now in order to remedy the evils of the 
moths, and prevent their ravages, and at the 
same time aid the bees in their prosperity, and 
make them profitable to their owner, I found 
it necessary to use a hive differing materially 



48 AN EASy METHOD OF 

from the old box, and commenced operations 
in the one already referred to, (called the 
Vermont hive,) in a course of experiments 
which have produced results perfectly satis- 
factory. From six years experience in its 
use, I have not the least doubt that bees may 
be managed to the best advantage, and with- 
out ever being materially injured by the 
moths. 

A beehive should be made in a perfect 
workmanlike manner, so as to have no open 
joints ; the boards sliould be free from shakes 
and cracks^ because the bees will make their 
tenement perfectly tight, so as to exclude 
light and air, by plastering up all such places 
as are left open by the workman, with a kind 
of mortar, or glue, of their own make, which 
is neither honey nor wax, but is very congen- 
ial to the growth of the worms in the first sta- 
ges of their larva state, and being secured from 
the bees by the timber, in a short time they 
are able to defend themselves by a silken 
shroud. 

Now the miller enters the hive and makes 



MANAGING BEES. 49 

an incision into the bee-glue, or cement, with 
her abdominal sting, and leaves her eggs. 
These eggs hatch there, and the brood subsist 
on the glue until they have arrived so far to- 
ward maturity as to enable them to encase 
themselves in a silken shroud ; and then they 
move onward. 

Now unless the bees chance to catch him 
by the collar, or nape of his neck, while feed- 
ing, and drag him out of his place of conceal- 
ment, they will be compelled to cut away 
the combs all around his silken path, or gal- 
lery, and drag out the worm and his fortress 
all together. At the same time, the bees are 
compelled to cut away the combs so far as to 
destroy many of their young brood in making 
room to remove the annoyance. I have 
known them to cut away their combs from 
four to eight or ten inches to remove this 
silken shroud, and have known them to cut 
and drag out their only remaining Queen be- 
fore she was transformed to the perfect fly, 
which occasioned the entire loss of the whole 
colony. 



50 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Repeated experiments have demonstrated 
the fact, that placing bees on the ground, or 
high in the air, is no security against the moths. 
1 have lost some of my best stocks by placing 
them on the ground, when those on the bench 
were not injured by them. I have made a 
groove in the bottom board, much wider than 
the thickness of the boards to the hive, and fill- 
ed the same with loam, 1 then placed the hive 
on the same, in such a manner as to prevent 
any crack or vacancy for the w orms ; and yet, 
in raising the hive four weeks afterwards, 1 
found them apparently full grown all around 
the hive in the dirt. I have found them very 
plenty in a tree ninety feet from the ground. 

The best method, in common practice, to 
prevent the depredations of the moth, is, to 
suspend the bottom board so far below the 
lower edge of the hive as to give the bees 
free entrance and egress all around the same 
during the moth season, or to raise the hive, 
by placing under it little blocks at each cor- 
ner, which produces nearly the same effect. 
But I know of but one rule, which is an infal- 



MANAGING BEES. 51 

lable one, to prevent their depredations, and 
that is this ; keep the combs well guarded bv 
bees. See Rule 10. 

Large hives, that never swarm, are never 
destroyed by the moth, unless they lose their 
Queen, melt down, or meet with some casu- 
alty, out of the ordinary course of managing 
them. They are not often in the least annoy- 
ed by them, unless there are bad joints, cracks, 
or shakes, so as to afford some lurking places 
for the worms. The reason for their prosper- 
ous condition is obvious. The stock of bees 
are so numerous that their combs are all kept 
well guarded during the moth season, so that 
no miller can enter and deposit her eggs. 

Hives made so small as to swarm, are lia- 
ble to reduce their colonies so small as to leave 
combs unguarded, especially when they swarm 
three or four times the same season. All 
swarms, after the first, sally forth to avoid 
the battle of the Queens ; constantly making 
a greater draft, in proportion to the number 
left, until the combs are partly exposed, w hich 
gives the miller free access to their edges. — 



52 AN EASY METHOD OF 

The seeds of rapine and plunder are thus 
quickly sown, and soon vegetate, and fortify 
themselves by their silken fortress, before the 
bees are aware that their frontiers are invaded. 
While the moths are thus engaged in estab- 
lishing their posts on the frontiers of the bees, 
the latter are constantly and indefatigably en- 
gaged in providing themselves with another 
Queen, to supply the place of the old one, 
which has departed with a swarm, and rais- 
ing young bees to replenish their reduced col- 
ony. Now as the moths have got possession 
of the ground on their frontiers, it requires a 
tremendous effort on the part of the bees to 
save their little colony from a complete over- 
throw. 

If late, or second and third swarms, are al- 
ways returned immediately according to the 
rule, the combs are kept so guarded that the 
moths are compelled to keep their distance, 
or be stung to death before they can accom- 
plish their purposes. 

Hives made so large as not to swarm may 
loose their Queen, and then they wilLaban- 



MANAGING BEES. 53 

don their habitation and emigrate into the ad- 
joining hive, leaving all their stores to their 
owner, which, unless immediately taken care 
of, the moths will not fail to destroy. 

The moths are often complained of when 
they are not guilty. Hives are frequently 
abandoned by their occupants, in consequence 
of the loss of their Queen, unnoticed by any 
observer, and before any thing is known of 
their fate, the hive is destitute of bees, and 
filled with moths. 

In the summer of 1834, one of my neigh- 
bors had a very large hive that never swarm- 
ed, which lost their Queen ; and in the course 
of a few days the bees entirely vacated their 
tenement, and emigrated into an adjoining 
hive, leaving the whole of their stores, which 
amounted to 215 lbs. of honey in the comb. 
No young bees or moths were discovered in 
the hive. Instances of this kind frequently 
occur, and the true cause is unknown, from 
inattention. 

The Queen may be superanuated, or may 
become diseased in the breeding season, so as 
5 



54 AN EASY METHOD OF 

to render her unfruitful ; or she may die of 
old age. In either case, the colony will be 
lost, unless supplied with another Queen* 
as explained in Remarks on Rule 8; for 
when the Queen becomes unfruitful by either 
of the foregoing causes, the bees are not ap- 
prized of the loss which will in future be sus- 
tained by them, until after the means of re- 
pairing the same are gone beyond their reach. 
All the giiibs may have passed the various 
stages of their transformation, or at least ad- 
vanced so far towards the perfect insect, that 
their nature cannot be changed to a Queen. 

The Queen is much more tenacious^of life 
than any other bee, and may live to a great 
age. But one Queen exists in the same hive 
any great length of time. When there are 
more than one, the peculiar sound of each, as 
explained in Remarks on Rule 2, is heard by 
the other, which always results in a battle 
between them, or the issue of a swarm in the 
course of a day or two. 

Bees, when placed in a dark room in the 
upper part of the house, or some out-house, 



MANAGING BEES. 55 

are easily cultivated a short time with little 
trouble, and are sometimes made profitable to 
their owner ; but as they are liable to some 
of the same casualties as those kept in swarm- 
ing hivesj they cannot be as profitable. 

Large colonies never increase their stock 
in proportion to the swarming colonies. There 
is but one female in a large colony, and they 
can do but little more in raising young bees 
than to keep their stock good by replenishing 
them as fast as they die off or are destroyed 
by the birds, reptiles and insects, which are 
great admirers of them and sometimes swallow 
them by dozens. Now if it requires five 
swarming colonies to be equal in number to 
one first described, it is not difficult to imagine 
that five times as many bees may be raised 
by the swarming colonies; for one Queen 
will probably lay as many eggs as another. 

The swarming hives are more liable to be 
destroyed by the moth during the swarming 
season, and no other, if the hives are kept 
well replenished with bees according to Rule 
10, 

5* 



56 AN EASY METHOD OF 



RULE XI. 

ON FEEDING BEES. 

If it is found that a swarm need feeding; 
take off the bottom board, and hitch on the 
feeder, well stored with good honey, while the 
weather is warm in October. 

The Apiarian should use the same precau- 
tion in feeding, as directed in Rule 4, to pre- 
vent robberies. 

REMARKS. 

The best time to feed is in the fall, before 
cold weather commences. All hives should 
be weighed, and the weight marked on the 
hive before bees are hived in them. Then, 
by weighing a stock as soon as frost has killed 
the blossoms in the fall, the Apiarian will be 
able to form a just estimate of their necessi- 
ties. When bees are fed in the fall, they will 
carry up and deposite their food in such a 
manner as will be convenient for them in the 
winter. 

If feeding is neglected until cold weather, 



MANAGING BEES. 57 

the bees must be removed to a warm room, 
or dry cellar, and then they will carry up their 
food, generally, no faster than they consume 
it. 

A feeder should be made the same size of 
the bottom of the hive, and in such a manner 
as to fit with its floor level, when hitched on 
like the bottom board. It should be of suffi- 
cient depth to lay in broad comb, filled with 
honey, without coming in contact with the 
combs of the hive. If strained honey with- 
out combs is used for feeding, a float, perfo- 
rated with many holes, should be laid over the 
whole of the honey in the box, or feeder, so 
as to prevent any of the bees from drowning; 
and at the same time, this float should be so 
thin as to enable them to reach the honey- 
It should also be made so small that it will 
settle down as fast as the honey is removed 
by the bees. As soon as warm weather com- 
mences in the spring, the feeder may be used, 
Small drawers cannot be depended on as feed- 
ers, except in the spring and summer, unless 
ihey are kept so warm that the vapor of the 



58 AN EASY METHOD OF 

bees will not freeze in them. It would be 
extremely hazardous for the bees to enter a 
frosty drawer. They will sooner starve, than 
attempt the experiment. Drawers may be 
used without danger from robbers, but when 
the feeder is usod, robbers must be guarded 
against as directed in Rule 4. 

Care should be exercised, in fall feeding, to 
supply them with good honey, otherwise the 
colony may be lost before spring by disease. 
Poor honey may be given them in the spring, 
at the time when they can obtain and provide 
themselves with medicine, which they, only, 
best understand. 

Sugar dissolved, or molasses, may be used 
in the spring to some advantage, but ought 
not to be substituted for honey, when it can be 
obtained. 

Bees sometimes die of starvation, with plen- 
ty of honey in the hive at the sam^ time. In 
cold weather they crowd together in a small 
compass in order to keep warm ; and then 
their breath and steam collect in frost, in 
all parts of the hive, except in the region they 



MANAGING BEES. 59 

occupy. Now unless the weather moderates 
so as to thaw the ice, the bees will be com- 
pelled to remain where they are located until 
their stores are all consumed that are within 
their reach. One winter we had cold weather 
ninety-ibnr days in succession, during which 
time the bees could not move from one part 
of the hive to another. I examined all my 
hives on the eighty-third day, and on the 
ninetieth day I found four swarms dead. I im- 
mediately examined for the cause, which was, 
as already stated. I then carried all my hives 
into a warm room and thawed them, so that 
the bees could move. Some hives that I sup- 
posed were dead, revived ; some few swarms 
I found nearly, destitute of stores, which I 
carried into the cellar, turned them bottom 
up, cut out a few of the combs, so as to make 
room to lay in combs filled with honey, which 
served as good feeders. 



60 AN EAST METHOD OF 



RULE XII. 

ON WINTERING BEES. 

On the near approach of winter, as soon as 
the bees have receded from the drawers and 
gone below, insert a slide, take out the draw- 
ers, and supply their places with enripty ones, 
bottom up. Suspend the bottom board at 
least half an inch below the lower edge of the 
hive. Clean oft'tlie bottom board as often as 
the weather changes from cold to warm, giv- 
ing them nearly as much air as in summer. 
Close no doors upon tiiem, unless they are 
kept in a spacious room and in such a place 
that the breath and steam of the bees will not 
freeze. 

R E M A S. K S . 

Various methods liave been practised by 
different individuals. Some have buried them 
in the ground, others kept them in the cellar, 
chamber, &tc. One course only will be ob- 
served in this place. 



MANAGING BEES. 61 



RULE XIII. 

ON TRANSFERRING SWARMS. 

This operation should never be effected by 
compulsion. 

First Method. Insert drawer No. I into 
the chamber of the hive, to be transferred as 
early as the first of May. If the bees fill the 
drawer, they will recede from the lower apart- 
ment and winter in the drawer. As early in 
the spring as the bees carry in bread plenti- 
fully on their legs, remove the drawer, which 
will contain the principal part of the bees, to 
an emj)ty hive. Now remove the old hive a 
few feet in front, and place tlie new one, con- 
taining the drawer, where the old one stood. 
Now turn the old hive bottom up. U there 
are any bees left in the old hive, they will soon 
return and take possession of their new habi- 
tation. 

Second Method. Take drawer No. 1, 
well filled by any hive the same season, insert 
the same into the chamber of the hive, to be 
transferred in September, (August would be 
better.) If the bees need transferring, they 
will repair to t-he drawer and make the same 



C2 AN EAST METHOD 07 

their winter quarters. Then proceed in the 
spring as directed in the first method. 

REMARKS. 

This management should excite a deep in- 
terest in every cultivator, both in a temporal and 
moral point of view. Temporal, because the 
lives of all the bees are preserved ; moral, be- 
cause we are accountable to God for all our 
acts. We are not to be justified in taking the 
lives of animals or insects, which are but lent 
blessings, unless some benefit to the owner 
can be derived from their death, which will 
outweigh the evils resulting from such a sacri- 
fice. Duty compels me to protest, in the 
stronfi^est terms and feelinjis, ao;ainst the inhu- 
man practice of taking the lives of the most 
industrous and comforting insects to the 
wants of the human family by fire and brim- 
stone. 

When bees have occupied one tenement 
for several years, the combs become thick and 
filthy, by being filled up with old bread and 
cocoons, made by the young bees when trans- 
formed from a larva to the perfect fly. 



MANAGING BEES. 6€l> 

Bees always wind themselves in their cells, 
in a silken cocoon, or shroud; to pass their 
torpid and defenceless (chrysalis) state. These 
cocoons are very thin, and are never removed 
by the bees. They are always cleaned im- 
mediately after the escape of the young bees, 
and others are raised in the same cells. Thus 
a number of bees are raised, which leaves an 
additional cocoon as often as the transforma- 
tion of one succeeds that of another, w^hich 
often occurs in the course of the season. Now 
in the course of a few years the cells become 
so contracted, in consequence of being thus 
filled up, that the bees come forth but mere 
dwarfs and sometimes cease to swarm. Combs 
are rendered useless by being filled up with old 
bread, which is never used except for feeding 
young bees. A greater quantity of this bread 
is stored up yearly than is used by them, and 
in a few years they have but little room to 
perform their ordinary labors. Hence the 
necessity of transferring them, or the inhuman 
sentence of death must be passed upon them, 
not by being hung by the neck until they are 



64 



AN EASY METHOD OF 



dead, but by being tortured to death by fire 
and brimstone. 

It is obvious to every cultivator that old 
stocks should be transferred. I have repeat- 
edly transferred them in the most approved 
manner, by means of an apparatus constructed 
for that purpose ; but the operation always 
resulted in the loss of the colony afterwards, 
or a swarm which would have come from 
them. 

When it is necessary to transfer a swarm, 
insert drawer No. 1 into their chamber in the 
spring, say the first of May. If they fill the 
drawer, let it remain there ; if they need to 
be changed to a new hive, they will recede 
from the low^er apartment and make the draw- 
er their winter quarters, which should remain 
until warm vi^eather has so far advanced as to 
afford them bread. Then they may be re- 
moved to an empty hive, as directed in the 
Rule. Now the drawer contains no bread, 
and should remain in the old stock until ths 
bees can provide themsevles WMth a sufficient 
quantity of that article to feed their young 



MANAGING BEES. 65 

bees with ; for bread is not collected early 
enough and in sufficient quantities to feed 
their young as much as nature requires. If 
the bees fail in filling the drawer, one should 
be used that is filled by another swarm. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, 

The reader might have expected many 
things demonstrated in this work, which are 
omitted by design. 

The structure of the worker is too well 
understood by every owner of bees to need a 
particular description. So also of the drone ; 
and the Queen has already been sufficiently 
described to enable any one to select her out 
from among her subjects. If any further de- 
scription is desired, the observer can easily 
satisfy himself by the use of a microscope. 
Every swarm of bees is composed of three 
classes or sorts, to wit : one Queen or female, 
drones or males, and neuters or workers. The 



66 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Qiieen is the only female in the hive, and lays 
all the eggs from which all the young bees 
are raised to replenish their colony. She pos- 
sesses no authority over them, other than that 
of influence, which is derived from the fact, 
that she is the mother of all the bees ; and 
they, being endowed with knowledge of the 
fact that they are wholly dependent on her to 
propagate their species, treat her with the 
greatest kindness, tenderness and reverence, 
and manifest at all times the most sincere at- 
tachment to her by feeding and guarding her 
from all danger. 

The government of a hive is nearer repub- 
lican than any other, because it is administer- 
ed in exact accordance with their nature. It 
is their peculiar natural instinct, which prompts 
them in all their actions. The Queen has no 
more to do with the government of the hive 
than the other bees, unless influence may be 
called government. If she finds empty cells 
in the hive, during the breeding season, she 
will deposit eggs there, because it is her na- 
ture to do so ; and the nature of the workers 



MANAGING BEES. 67 

prompts them to take care and nurse all the 
young larvfE, labor and collect food for their 
sustenance, guard and protect their habitations 
and do and perform all things, in due obedi- 
ence, not to the commands of the Queen, but 
to their own peculiar instinct. 

The drone is probably the male bee, not- 
withstanding the sexual union has never been 
witnessed by any man ; yet so many experi- 
ments have been tried, and observations made, 
that but little doubt can be entertained of its 
truth. That the sexual intercourse takes 
place high in the air, is highly probable from 
the fact, that other insects of the fly tribe do 
copulate in the air, when on the wing, as 1 
have repeatedly seen. The doctrine that th» 
drone is the male bee, is probable from the 
flict that they are not all killed at once ; but 
that at least one in each hive is permitted to 
live several months after the general massa- 
cre, 

1 examined four swarms, whose colonies 
were strong and numerous, three months after 
the general massacre of the drones, and in 



6b AN EASY METHOD OF 

three hives I found one drone each ; the other 
was probably overlooked, as the bees were 
thrown into the fire as fast as they were exam- 
ined. But there are many mysterious things 
concerning them, and much might be written 
to little purpose ; and as it is designed to go 
no further in illustrations than is necessary to 
aid the Apiarian in good management, many 
Kttle speculations have been entirely omitted 
in the work, and the reader is referred to the 
writings of Thatcher, Bonner, and Huber, 
who are the most voluminous and extensive 
writers on bees within my knowledge. 

Bees are creatures of habit, and the exer- 
cise of caution in managing them is required. 
A stock of bees should be placed where they 
are to stand through the season before they 
form habits of location, which will take place 
soon after they commence their labors in the 
spring. They learn their home by the objects 
surrounding them in the immediate vicinity of 
the hive. Moving them, (unless they are car- 
ried beyond their knowledge,) is often fatal to 
them. The old bees forget their new loca- 



MANAGING BEES. 69 

tion, and on their return, when collecting 
stores, they haze ahout where they formerly 
stood, and perish. I have known some fine 
stocks ruined by moving them six feet and from 
that to a mile and a half. It is better to move 
them before swarming than afterwards. The 
old bees only will be lost. As the young ones 
are constantly hatching, their habits will be 
formed at the new stand, and the combs will 
not be as likely to become vacated, so as to 
afford opportunity to the moths to occupy any 
part of their ground. 

Swarms, when first hived, may be moved at 
pleasure without loss of bees, admitting they 
are all in the hive ; their habits will be formed 
in exact proportion to their labors. The first 
bee that empties his sack and goes forth in 
search of food, is the one whose habits are 
first established. I have observed many bees 
to cluster near the place where the hive stood, 
but a few hours after hiving, and perish. Now 
if the swarm had been placed in the apiary, 
immediately after they were hived, the num- 
ber of bees found there would have been less. 
6 



70 AN EASY METHOD OF 

Bees may be moved at pleasure at any 
season of the year, if they are carried several 
miles, so as to be beyond their knowledge of 
country. Tliey may be carried long journeys 
by traveling nights, only, and affording them 
opportunity to labor and collect food in the 
day time. 

The importance of this part of bee-man- 
agement is the only apology I can make for 
dwelling so long on this point. I have known 
men of high attainments in literary knowledge, 
as well as others, to suffer serious losses, in 
consequence of moving their bees after they 
were well settled in their labors.' 

Bees should never be irritated, under any 
*^retence whatever. They should be treated 
with attention and kindness. They should be 
kept undisturbed by cattle and all other an- 
noyances, so that they may be approached at 
any time with safety. 

An apiary should be so situated, that swarm- 
ing may be observed, and at the same time 
where tlie bees can obtain food easily, and in 
the greatest abundance. 



MANAGING BEES. 71 

It has been a general practice to front bee- 
houses either to the east, or south. This doc- 
trine should be exploded with all other whims. 
Apiaries should be so situated as to be con- 
venient to their owner, as much as any other 
buildings. 

I have them front towards all the cardinal 
points, but can distinguish no difference in 
their prosperity. 

Younir swarms should be scattered as much 
as convenient during the summer season, at 
'east eight feet apart. They should be set 
in a frame and so covered as to exclude the 
sun and weather from the hive. 

It is not surprising, that this branch of rural 
economy in horticulture, in consequence of 
the depredations of the moth, is so much neg^ 
lected. Notwithstanding, in some parts of 
our country, the business of managing bees 
has been entirely abandoned for years, I am 
confident they may be cultivated in such a 
manner as to render them more profitable to 
their owners, than any branch of agriculture, 
in proportion to the capital necessary to be 



12 AN EA.SY METHOD OF 

invested in their stock. They are not taxa- 
hle property, neither does it require a large 
land investment, nor fences, neither does it 
require the owner to labor through the sum- 
mer to support them tli rough the winter. 
Care is, indeed, necessary, but a child, or a 
>uperanuated person can perform most of the 
duties of an Apiarian. The cobwebs must be 
kept away from the immediate vicinity of the 
hive, and all other annoyances removed. 

The management of bees is a delightful 
employment, and may be pursued with the 
finest success in cities and villages, as well as 
towns and country. It is a source of great 
amusement, as well as coi^fort and profit. 
They collect honey and bread from most 
kinds of forest trees, as well as garden flow- 
ers, orchards, forests, and fields ; all contri- 
bute to their wants, and their owner is grati- 
fied with a taste of the whole. Sweet mignon- 
ett cannot be too highly recommended. This 
plant is easily cultivated by drills in the garden, 
and is one of the finest and richest flowers in the 



MANAGING BEES. "73 

world from which the honey-bee can extract 
its food. 

The Vermont hive is the only one I can 
use to much advantage or profit, and yet 
there are many improvements, which are far 
superior to the old box. In the summer of 
1834, I received in swarms and extra honey 
from my best stock thirty dollars, and i^rom my 
poorest, fifteen dollars. My early swarms 
afforded extra honey which was sold, amount- 
ing to from five to ten dollars each hive ; and 
all my late swarms which were doubled, stored 
a sufficient quantity of food to supply them 
through the following winter. 

The rules in the foregoing work, perhaps, 
may be deemed, in some instances, too partic- 
ular ; yet, in all cases, they will be found to 
be safe and unfailing in their application, liable 
to exceptions, such as are incident to all spe- 
cific rules. 



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INI Mil I 

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